Guest view: Ohio payday lending mess needs investigated

Thursday

Former Ohio House Speaker Cliff Rosenberger resigned from office amid talk of an FBI investigation into his allegedly unethical behavior.

Ohioans are owed some more information about how influence is being apportioned in the Ohio House of Representatives — before members get together and elect a new speaker.

The former speaker abruptly quit on April 12 — after it was reported he had retained a lawyer to respond to questions from the FBI. The Clarksville Republican says he's done nothing wrong.

Some payday lending lobbyists may have attempted to curry favor with the speaker by helping to pay for a trip to London. The FBI is investigating that. It just so happened that payday lenders went on a lavish trip with the speaker and that coincidentally the legislation to reform payday lending got bottled up in committee. The legislation, co-sponsored by Toledo state Rep. Michael Ashford, is aimed at reining in the predatory interest rates that so-called payday lenders charge.

Ohio citizens want the Ohio General Assembly to act in the citizens' best interests at all times. That includes when it comes to regulating the payday lending industry.

All we know is that Mr. Rosenberger was rapidly hustled out of town, and Republican House members act like it's just another day at work and time to elect a new House Speaker. Meanwhile, the story about the payday lenders and Mr. Rosenberger's excellent adventure in London has gone quiet. Mr. Rosenberger is the first speaker to resign under an ethical cloud. ...

The Franklin County prosecutor's office and the office of the inspector general should not wait for the FBI to decide what to do but should open an investigation and follow where it leads.